REMINISCENCES 


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NORTH  CAROLINA 


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NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

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REMINISCENCES 


1861 


1865 


LAWSON  HARRILL, 

Captain  Company  I,  56th  Regiment 

North  Carolina  Troops* 

GENERAL  M.  W.  RANSOM'S  BRIGADE. 


1910 

BRADY,  THE  PRINTER 

Statesville,  N.  C. 


A  WORD  PERSONAL. 

Housen  Harrill,  my  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  Virginia.  He  married  Francis  Street, 
moved  to  North  Carolina,  and  settled  on  Beaver 
Dam  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Cleveland  county. 
Here  they  raised  a  large  family — five  sons  and  sev- 
eral daughters.  Their  son  Samuel,  born  June  19, 
1772,  was  my  grandfather. 

Tradition  has  it  that  Housen  Harrill,  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  If  so,  he  was  probably 
in  a  Virginia  Regiment.  He  represented  Ruther- 
ford county  in  the  Legislature  of  1804. 

Samuel  Harrill  was  married  about  1799  to 
Susannah  Hamrick.  They  lived  on  Sandy  Run 
Creek  in  Rutherford  county,  and  were  the  parents 
of  six  sons  and  five  daughters.  Their  fourth  son, 
Amos,  was  my  father. 

My  maternal  great-grandfather  James  LEE,  and 
his  wife,  Mary  Chisholm,  were  raised  in  Virginia. 
He  was  connected  with  the  family  from  which  Gen- 
eral Lee  descended. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  was  living 
in  Tryon  county,  now  Rutherford  county,  North 
Carolina.  He  fought  at  King's  Mountain  and 
Cowpens.  Being  severely  wounded  at  Cowpens, 
he  was  carried  to  his  home  12  or  15  miles  distant. 


V 


While  on  furlough  he  received  a  letter  from  Gener- 
al Pickens  commending  his  bravery  in  that  battle. 
Cassandra  or  "Cassie  Lee,"  his  daughter,  mar- 
ried William  Baxter,  and  their  daughter,  Eliz- 
abeth, my  mother,  married  Amos  Harrill,  March 

3°i  l837- 

I  am  the  eldest  of  fifteen  children  and  was  born 

February  17,  1838.     William  Baxter,  the  second 

child  died  in  infancy. 

My  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  Rutherford 
county,  where  I  attended  the  common  schools. 
Webster's  blue  back  was  a  text  book  and  boys  were 
taught  to  spell.  I  learned  to  do  all  kinds  of  farm 
work,  and  also  that  fish  would  bite  on  Sunday. 

My  life  was  uneventful  until  my  twentieth  year. 
At  that  time  my  brothers  aud  sisters  were  attacked 
with  a  malignant  form  of  scarlet  fever.  On  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1858,  Susan,  one  of  my  twin  sisters  died. 
Though  only  eleven  years  of  age,  she  seemed  to  real- 
ize that  she  could  not  live  and  selected  a  place  for 
her  burial.  Baity  died  February  27;  Esther,  28; 
Sarah,  March  3;  and  Priscilla,  March  14. 

I  regard  this  great  affliction  as  the  turning  point 
in  my  life.  I  realized  that  I  was  without  a  hope  of 
that  happy  existence  beyond  the  grave.  I  was  in  a 
state  of  unrest  and  anxiety  until  May  31st.  It  was 
customary  in  those  days  to  preach  funerals  some 
time   after  death  and  burial.     At  the  services   in 


memory  of  my  brother  and  four  sisters,  while  my 
uncle,  William  Harrill,  was  preaching,  I  was  con- 
verted. 

The  same  year,  1858,  I  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  O.  P.  Gardner.  I  entered  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  October, 
1859.  Here  I  became  aware  of  the  intense  animos- 
ity existing  between  the  North  and  South. 

My  first  experience  in  political  excitement  was 
at  the  time  of  the  John  Brown  raid  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  The  bitterness  increased  during  i860. 
March  9,  1861,  I  graduated  in  medicine  and  re- 
turned to  my  home. 

BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1861,  I  arrived  in  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and  the  next  day  saw  the  United 
States  flag  lowered  at  Fort  Sumter.  From  Spartan- 
burg I  had  traveled  with  a  number  of  South  Caro- 
lina Volunteers,  who  were  in  a  state  of  great  ex- 
citement. The  firing  had  ceased  before  we  reached 
the  city  and  the  surrender  took  place  next  day. 

When  I  returned  to  Rutherford  county,  I  made 
and  raised  the  first  secession  flag  in  the  county.  In 
a  few  days  Lincoln's  proclamation  calling  for  troops 
to  coerce  the  States  that  had  already  seceded  was 
the  topic  discussed  at  every  fireside.  It  was  the  gen- 
eral opinion  that  North  Carolina  would  secede. 


Governor  Ellis  called  the  Legislature  to  meet 
May  i.  In  the  meantime  volunteer  companies  were 
being  organized  all  over  the  State. 

My  brother  Amos  and  I  joined  the  first  one  to 
leave  our  county.  My  brothers  George  and  John 
joined  one  which  was  formed  later.  Our  company 
was  organized  and  drilled  for  several  days  at  the 
place  where  Forest  City  now  stands.  My  cousin, 
H.  D.  Lee,  grandson  of  James  Lee,  was  elected  Cap- 
tain. On  May  i,  we  left  for  Raleigh.  We  marched 
to  Lincolnton  (our  nearest  R.  R.  station)  took  a 
freight  train  and  reached  Raleigh  May  3rd,  or  4th, 
where  we  found  the  greatest  excitement,  troops  be- 
ing sent  to  the  front  and  regiments  being  organized, 
as  the  Legislature  had  authorized  the  Governor  to 
raise  ten  regiments  before  the  meeting  of  the  State 
Convention.  Our  company  was  placed  in  the  6th 
Regiment  Volunteers,  North  Carolina  Troops.  We 
camped  at  the  old  quarry,  where  the  stone  used  in 
building  the  capital  was  taken.  We  spent  most  of 
the  time  in  drilling.  Here  I  learned  the  manuel 
of  arms. 

My  uncle  Micajah  Durham,  father  of  Plato  Dur- 
ham, was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention.  He 
took  me  into  the  Capital,  shared  his  seat  with  me, 
hence  I  was  present  when  the  ordinance  of  secession 
was  passed  on  the  twentieth  of  May,  1861. 

To  avoid  confusion,  the  numbers  of  the  volun- 


teer  regiments  were  changed,  and  my  company  was 
assigned  to  the  16th  Regiment,  being  Company  D. 
Stephen  L,ee,  of  Asheville,  was  our  Colonel. 

July  5th,  1 86 1,  we  left  Raleigh,  arrived  in  Rich- 
mond on  the  6th  and  in  a  few  days  were  ordered  to 
what  is  now  West  Virginia,  to  re-inforce  General 
Garnett,  who  was  killed  before  we  could  reach  him. 

My  first  experience  in  marching  in  battle  array 
was  from  Staunton,  Va.,  across  the  Alleghanies  to 
Valley  Mt.,  at  the  head  of  Tygart's  River.  I  was 
wearing  a  pair  of  Oxford  ties.  Blisters  were  num- 
erous. 

While  we  were  in  camp  at  Valley  Mt.,  our  regi- 
ment was  visited  with  an  epidemic  of  measles  term- 
inating in  many  cases,  on  account  of  unavoidable 
exposure,  in  rapid  pneumonia,  or  followed  by 
typhoid  fever. 

There  were  no  experienced  nurses,  no  suitable 
food,  no  competent  cooks  and  a  scant  supply  of 
medicines.  The  Surgeon  and  Assistant-Surgeon 
were  sick  and  Dr.  J.  I,.  Rucker  and  I,  both  pri- 
vates, were  detailed  for  medical  services.  We  did 
what  we  could,  but  the  great  number  of  the  sick 
(at  one  time  amounting  to  several  hundred)  over- 
whelmed us.  Disease  caused  greater  mortality 
among  us  than  any  battle  of  the  war. 

September  23rd,  we  were  ordered  to  advance  on 
the  position  of  the  enemy.     There  was  skirmish- 


8 


ing  for  a  day  or  two.  Here  I  saw  my  first  dead 
Federal  soldier.  On  our  return  our  command 
halted.  I  was  sick  and  had  permission  to  leave  the 
regiment.  In  going  to  the  rear  I  met  General  R. 
E.  Lee,  riding  alone.  He  made  inquiries  about  a 
certain  Tennessee  Regiment,  then  said,  "you  look 
sick,  go  as  far  as  you  can.  I  am  going  to  order 
these  troops  to  retire  and  you  will  be  exposed  to 
capture."  I  kept  going  until  exhausted,  when  I 
spent  the  rest  of  the  night  on  the  grass  in  a  moun- 
tain meadow. 

About  October  i,  the  troops  were  withdrawn 
from  Valley  Mt.  It  had  been  raining  almost  daily 
for  weeks  and  all  streams  were  raging.  We  had 
great  difficulty  in  crossing  a  river  The  current  was 
so  strong  that  one  man  could  not  stand  in  it,  but 
they  gripped  each  other  and  crossed  in  groups. 
In  a  few  days  I  was  detailed  to  take  charge  of  a 
train  of  wagons  and  convey  more  than  fifty  typhoid 
fever  patients  to  the  hospital  at  Rock  Bridge  Alum 
Springs,  50  or  60  miles  away. 

Here  I  assisted  in  treating  the  sick,  until  I  was 
attacked  with  jaundice.  When  I  recovered  I  was 
placed  in  charge  of  a  ward  in  the  hospital.  Soon 
after,  I  took  charge  of  the  Dispensary,  where  I  re- 
mained until  December,  when  I  rejoined  my  regi- 
ment near  the  Potomac  river,  east  of  Manassas.  We 
spent  the  winter  here  and  suffered  many  hardships. 


9 


While  here  I  heard  of  the  death  of  my  brother 
George,  in  the  hospital  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  He 
was  in  his  twentieth  year.  He  had  been  in  service 
only  a  few  months. 

In  March,  1862,  with  First  Lieutenant  Kilpat- 
rick,  I  was  detailed  to  return  to  Rutherford  county 
to  enlist  recruits.  We  raised  about  75  men,  and 
rejoined  our  regiment  at  Fredricksburg,  Va.  Here, 
on  April  7,  we  organized  a  new  company,  with  J. 
W.  Kilpatrick,  Captain,  and  L,.  Harrill,  First  Lieu- 
tenant. This  new  company,  "N"  was  attached  to 
the  1 6th  Regiment,  making  13  companies  in  that 
regiment.  This  company  was  mainly  new  men 
with  a  few  transfers  from  Company  D. 

In  a  few  days  we  left  for  Ashland,  Va.,  and  on  to 
Yorktown.  Here  we  were  exposed  to  fire  from  the 
Federal  gunboats.  A  shell  from  one  struck  our 
breastworks  and  threw  dirt  over  me. 

The  retreat  from  Yorktown  to  Richmond,  began 
on  May  4,  and  our  march  was  made  over  roads  al- 
most knee  deep  in  mud.  At  Williamsburg  there 
was  a  hard  fought  battle,  but  our  regiment  was  not 
engaged.  On  this  retreat  I  saw  our  Commander 
Gen.  Jos.  E.  Johnson,  for  the  first  time.  After  one 
hard  day's  march,  we  made  our  supper  on  corn 
taken  from  the  hungry  mules  and  parched. 

We  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond  until 
May  30,  when  we  marched  toward  Mechanicsville. 


10 


May  31,  we  went  to  Seven  Pines  at  double  quick. 
Firing  in  our  front  warned  us  that  we  were  to  en- 
ter our  first  battle,  and  the  roadside  was,  lined  with 
playing  cards,  which  the  men  cast  aside  not  wish- 
ing to  carry  them  into  the  fight.  We  were  under 
command  of  that  dauntless  old  hero,  Gen.  Wade 
Hampton,  who  rode  quietly  along  the  line  saying, 
"Do  not  fire  a  shot  until  you  feel  the  enemy  on 
your  bayonets."  We  lost  our  Captain,  J.  W.  Kil- 
patrick,  and  W.  A.  Brooks,  A.  K.  Lynch,  A.  R. 
Sorrels  and  J.  G.  Price.  The  latter,  our  drummer, 
went  voluntarily  into  battle.  A  number  of  our 
men  were  wounded.  After  the  battle  we  had  a  sup- 
per of  pork  and  beans  from  kettles  on  the  camp 
fires  of  a  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  "  The  Bucktail 
Rangers." 

I  was  promoted  to  Captain  and  served  as  such 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  At  Seven  Pines,  Gen- 
eral Johnson  was  wounded,  and  General  Lee  became 
Commander.  Early  next  morning  he  rode  by  my 
company  on  old  "Traveller." 

We  remained  in  this  locality  until  June  19,  when 
I  was  ordered  to  report  with  my  company  at  Camp 
Mangum,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Here  our  company  was 
transferred  to  the  56th  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
Troops  and  became  Company  I.  Ours  was  the  on- 
ly company  in  this  regiment  that  had  seen  active 
service.     This  was  our  first  opportunity  for  drilling, 


11 


as  heretofore  we  had  been  too  close  to  the  enemy. 
Col.  H.  B.  Watson  inspected  the  company  July  i, 
1862,  and  made  this  report: — "Discipline:  Good. 
Instruction:  Very  deficient.  Military  Appearance: 
Good.  Arms:  Mixed  but  serviceable.  Accoutre- 
ments: Good.  Knapsacks:  Worthless.  Clothing: 
Deficient."  We  drilled  every  day  and  soon  felt  that 
as  skirmishers  we  were  the  best  in  the  regiment. 
(For  account  of  the  formation  of  this  company 
and  its  transfer  see  North  Carolina  Regiments, 
Vol.  Ill,  page  316.) 

Aug.  8,  1862,  the  56th  was  ordered  to  Goldsboro. 
The  next  three  months  were  spent  marching  and 
counter-marching  between  Goldsboro,  Warsaw, 
Magnolia,  Wilmington,  the  seacoast,  Tarboro,  etc. 
We  took  one  trip  in  the  rain  on  flat  cars.  Smoke 
from  rich  pine  wood  used  in  the  engine  blew  full 
upon  us.  When  we  reached  camp  where  soap  and 
water  were  scarce,  we  had  no  change  of  clothing. 
The  figure,  size,  or  roll  call  revealed  a  man's  iden- 
tity. Bast  of  Tarboro,  on  November  4th,  Vance, 
our  recently  elected  Governor,  visited  us.  He  was 
wearing  a  high  silk  hat  and  was  greeted  with 
"Come  out  of  that  hat!  We  know  you  are  in  there 
because  we  see  your  feet  sticking  out."  Vance  en- 
joyed the  joke  as  much  as  the  men. 

November  5,  expected  attack  from  General  Fos- 
ter— had  skirmishing.    November  6th,  had  pursued 


12 


enemy  to  Hamilton,  N.  C.  Next  day  we  had  sev- 
eral inches  of  snow.  I  was  unwilling  for  the  half 
dozen  barefooted  men  to  March  through  it,  and 
with  difficulty  secured  a  wagon  for  them.  On 
November  15th,  we  crossed  Roanoke  River  at  Hill's 
Ferry,  near  Palmyra.  We  marched  through  Bertie 
county  to  Murfreesboro.  We  were  escorted  through 
the  town  by  Colonel  Wheeler  (author  of  North  Car- 
olina History)  and  his  cavalry.  November  19th, 
crossed  the  Nottaway  River,  marched  to  Franklin, 
Va.,  and  6  miles  beyond.  We  were  without  food. 
I  failed  to  secure  any  supplies  from  the  commis- 
sary but  was  invited  to  sup  with  my  Colonel,  which 
I  declined  to  do.  We  remained  at  Franklin,  Va., 
for  several  weeks. 

December  8th.  A  detachment  from  my  company 
under  Lieutenant  Sweezy,  who  never  saw  anything 
too  big  for  him  to  fight,  attacked  a  small  gunboat 
in  Blackwater  River  and  forced  it  to  withdraw. 
My  men  being  on  a  bluff  had  the  advantage. 

January  17,  1863.  Returned  to  Goldsboro  N.  C, 
and  were  ordered  to  the  front  on  picket  duty  at 
Magnolia.  January  20th,  went  to  Keenansville. 
Here  the  Brigade  of  General  M.  W.  Ransom  was 
formed  by  placing  24th,  25th,  35th,  49th  and  56th 
Regiments  under  his  command.  February  22nd. 
Ordered  to  Wilmington,  thence  to  Old  Topsail 
Sound  (Feb.  24)     where  we  drilled  until  March  23 


13 


when  we  started  to  Kinston,  ariving  April  i.  April 
17th  we  crossed  Neuse  River  and  by  the  19th 
reached  Wise's  Fork,  where  we  lay  in  line  of  battle. 
At  this  time  the  Federals  were  occupying  Newbern. 

April  24th,  Company's  I,  E  and  G,  all  under  my 
command,  were  ordered  to  Gum  Swamp,  ten  miles 
east  of  Kinston.  On  the  28th  we  were  attacked 
by  four  regiments,  at  least  1600  men,  while  my 
force  was  165.  We  held  our  position  on  the  east 
side  of  the  swamp  for  about  two  hours,  then  crossed 
to  the  west  side  and  fought  until  darkness  closed 
the  battle.  We  lost  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Lutter- 
loh,  and  three  men  killed.  Enemy's  loss,  ten  killed 
and  eighteen  wounded.  Next  morning  Adjutant 
E.  J.  Hale  wrote  an  account  of  the  skirmish  and 
published  it  in  the  Fayetteville  Observer.  He  says, 
"Capt.  Harrill,  Company  I,  commanded  during  the 
first  of  the  fight  and  until  the  arrival  of  Colonel 
Faison.  He  is  certainly  one  of  the  coolest  men  I 
ever  saw,  and  all  award  him  praise  for  the  admir- 
able handling  of  his  little  force  while  in  command. 
*  *  *  *.  Our  officers  and  men  behaved  most 
admirably,  not  one  leaving  his  post  or  straggling 
in  any  way  *  *  *  *.  The  force  of  the  enemy 
in  our  front  consisted  of  six  regiments  of  infantry 
and  a  squadron  of  cavalry."  (For  another  account 
see  North  Carolina  Regiments,  Vol.  Ill,  page  323.) 


14 


We  remained  near  Wise's  Fork,  until  May  21, 
when  my  company  was  again  on  picket  duty,  one 
mile  south  of  the  railroad  at  a  crossing  of  Gum 
Swamp.  During  the  night  the  enemy  passed  in 
rear  of  my  position  and  attacked  our  regiment 
where  the  first  battle  of  Gum  Swamp  was  fought. 
After  the  battle  I  withdrew  my  company,  crossed 
the  enemy's  trail  through  the  swamp,  and  after 
hours  of  wandering  joined  our  regiment  at  Wise's 
Fork.  About  half  of  the  regiment  was  captured. 
Company  I  did  not  lose  a  man. 

At  this  time  the  enemy  was  threatening  Rich- 
mond from  both  sides  of  James  River.  To  meet 
emergencies  our  brigade  was  moved  rapidly  from 
place  to  place.  May  28,  to  Petersburg;  29,  Rich- 
mond; June  2,  Petersburg;  June  13,  Drewry's  Bluff; 
17,  Petersburg;  21,  Halfway  House.  June  26,  we 
had  a  night  march  to  Seven  Pines  to  meet  a  column 
of  the  enemy  coming  from  the  WhiteHouse.  June 
2,  we  met  a  large  force  of  Federals,  partly  new 
recruits,  near  Bottom's  Bridge  and  had  the  longest 
running  fight  that  I  saw  during  the  war.  We  ad- 
vanced eight  or  ten  miles  rapidly,  often  at  double 
quick,  but  the  enemy  outran  us  to  the  shelter  of 
their  gunboat  on  York  River. 

July  nth,  we  were  at  Petersburg;  28th,  Weldon, 
N.  C;  Aug.  1st,  Garysburg,  N.  C;  Aug.  12th,  Hali- 
fax; i3th,Hamilton;  16th  ordered  back  to  Garysburg. 


15 


About  the  last  of  August,  '63,  my  company  with 
others,  was  ordered  to  Wilkes  county,  North  Car- 
olina, to  break  up  the  gang  of  deserters  and  lawless 
characters,  whose  refuge  was  in  the  mountains.  We 
arrested  large  numbers  and  sent  them  to  the  army. 
These  men  were  from  several  States. 

My  company  was  in  Wilkes,  Ashe,  Alleghany 
and  Randolph  counties  until  January  1,  1864,  when 
the  regiment  was  assembled  at  Goldsboro,  where 
we  drilled  until  ordered  to  Kinston,  about  the 
28th.  29th  and  31st  we  advanced  toward  Newbern. 
February  1st,  moved  at  2  a.  m.,  and  captured  an 
outpost  on  Bachelor's  Creek,  my  company  on  skir- 
mish line  took  several  prisoners.  One  man,  hidden 
in  the  grass,  threw  up  his  hands  as  we  came  near. 
James  Nelon  was  in  the  act  of  shooting  him  when 
I  struck  down  the  gun  with  my  sword.  We  made 
a  rush  for  the  railroad  bridge  hoping  to  cut  off  the 
enemy  but  failed,  then  closed  in  around  Newbern 
and  spent  the  day  in  sight  of  their  fortifications, 
then  were  sent  back  to  Kinston. 

February  7th,  sent  to  Weldon  by  train;  26th,  to 
Franklin,  Va.;  March  9th,  to  Suffolk,  where  we 
captured  a  number  of  prisoners  and  returned  to 
Franklin;  12th,  by  train  to  Weldon.  We  then 
camped  at  Garysburg  for  drilling,  also  muster,  and 
inspection  for  January  and  February,  by  Colonel 
Faison.     Here  I  had  my  first  experience  in  drilling 


16 


a  regiment.  We  left  for  Tarboro  April  14th,  and 
next  day  the  march  to  Plymouth  began.  The 
49th  Regiment  being  absent  on  special  duty,  the 
8th  Regiment  was  placed  in  Ransom's  Brigade  un- 
til its  return. 

BATTLE  OF  PLYMOUTH. 

We  reached  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth  on  Sun- 
day, April  17th.  Brigadier  Gen.  R.  F.  Hoke,  com- 
manded this  expedition.  Under  him  were  his  own 
bigade,  Colonel  Lewis,  Commanding,  Kemper's  Vir- 
ginia Brigade;  General  M.  W.  Ransom's  Brigade; 
Deering's  Cavalry,  Branch's  and  other  Artillery. 

The  engagement  began  Sunday  evening,  the  en- 
emy opening  fire  with  artillery.  My  company  was 
deployed  as  skirmishers  on  the  Washington  Road 
and  drove  the  Yankee  skirmishers  within  their 
breastworks. 

April  1 8th.  The  position  of  my  command  was 
changed  to  the  south  front  of  the  enemy's  fortifica- 
tions. About  5  P.  M.  a  Staff  Officer  rode  up  to  our 
Commander  with  General  Ransom's  compliments, 
and  said,  "Send  me  Capt.  Harrill's  Company." 
We  were  sent  forward  to  engage  the  enemy's  pick- 
ets and  drove  them  in.  The  Yankee  Artillery 
opened  fire,  and  we  sheltered  behind  stumps  and 
logs,  as  best  we  could,  to  avoid  the  heavy  shower 
of  grape  shot  hurled  at  us.     We  lay  down  and  all 


17 


the  artillery  on  both  sides  opened  fire,  the  shot  and 
shell  passing  over  us.  The  artillery  duel  is  de- 
scribed in  North  Carolina  History,  Vol.  V,  page  179, 
as  follows:  "The  action  commenced  about  sunset. 
The  night  being  perfectly  clear  with,  a  full  moon, 
every  object  was  visible.  The  sight  was  magnifi- 
cent. The  screaming,  hissing  shells,  meeting  and 
passing  each  other  through  the  sulphurous  air,  ap- 
peared like  blazing  comets  with  their  burning  fuses 
and  would  burst  with  frightful  noise,  scattering 
their  fragrants  as  thick  as  hail." 

April  19th.  Our  position  was  changed  several 
times.  At  dark  we  marched  to  east  of  Plymouth. 
About  midnight  we  reached  Conaby  Creek  where 
the  bridge  had  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  We 
crossed  the  creek  on  pontoon  bridge  and  took  posi- 
tion in  an  open  field  in  front  of  strong  fortifications. 

April  20th.  We  advanced  on  the  town  at  day- 
light. My  company  was  ordered  to  keep  close  to 
the  river,  as  sharpshooters,  without  regard  to  the 
movements  of  the  regiment. 

We  crossed  a  swamp  through  water  hip-deep,  ad- 
vanced through  yards  and  gardens,  to  the  crossing 
of  Jefferson  Street,  where  we  came  into  range  of 
heavy  infantry  fire.  T.  R.  Campbell,  Sam'l  Green, 
J.  P.  Philbeck,  H.  W.  Price,  R.  H.  Wall,  and  Hous- 
en  Harrill  were  wounded.  The  latter  still  carries 
a  minnie-ball  in  his  leg  as  a  souvenir.     William 


18 


Daves,  Co.  I,  color  guard  (with  the  regiment)  was 
instantly  killed. 

Advancing,  we  reached  Battery  Worth,  fired  into 
the  open  rear  door,  whereupon  the  occupants  sur- 
rendered Taking  the  prisoners  with  us  we  turned 
to  the  left.  About  75  yards  in  that  direction 
brought  us  in  rear  of  the  right  wing  of  the  enemy's 
fortifications,  full  of  Federal  soldiers,  who  promptly 
surrendered.  We  marched  our  prisoners  (double 
our  own  number)  into  the  west  end  of  Water  Street 
and  required  them  to  sit  or  lie  down.  Thus  we 
had  opened  the  way  for  Lewis'  men  to  enter  the 
town  from  the  west  side  without  firing  a  shot. 

The  quotations  given  below  bear  upon  this  en- 
gagement and  the  part  taken  by  my  men.  North 
Carolina  Regiments,  Vol.  5,  page  188:  "Company 
I  of  the  56th.,  under  Captain  Harrill,  was  sent  in 
advance  of  the  regiment  with  orders  to  keep  along 
the  river  and  was  thus  the  first  company  to  enter  the 
towji,  [italics  mine]  and  about  sunrise  captured  20 
artilleryists  who  were  serving  the  200  pound  gun 
intended  for  the  "Albemarle,"  which  was  proceed- 
ing up  the  river  with  our  line  and  secured  Captain 
Cook  from  further  opposition  of  any  moment." 

North  Carolina  Regiments,  Vol.  Ill,  page  340, 
342,  343:  "  Company  I  pressed  straight  forward 
sweeping  everything  before  them  between  Water 
Street  and  the  river  bank."       ***** 


19 


"The  part  assigned  to  Harrill's  men  under  their 
fearless  leader  had  been  effectually  accomplished. 
Through  water  hip  deep  they  crossed  the  canal  and 
swamp  and  keeping  near  the  river,  passing  around 
houses  and  bursting  through  garden  and  yard  fen- 
ces, they  reached  the  rear  of  Battery  Worth,  con- 
taining the  200  pounder  specialty  provided  to  an- 
ticipate the  coming  of  our  iron  clad  "Albemarle." 
One  volley  was  sufficient.  The  white  flag  was  run 
up  and  the  battery  with  some  twenty  artillery  men 
surrendered  to  him.  Taking  the  prisoners  with 
them  from  this  battery  on  the  river  they  imme- 
diately charged  to  their  left  and  thus  struck  in  the 
flank  and  rear  the  right  section  of  the  enemy's  line 
of  battle  occupying  the  breastworks  here  on  Water 
Street  facing  up  the  river.  His  demand  to  surren- 
der was  promptly  complied  with  and  while  Harrill 
here  gathered  in  his  prisoners  largely  outnumbering 
his  own  rank  and  file,  Lewis'  men,  who  had  held 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  in  their  front,  came  in 
at  a  double  quick  over  the  cause-way  leading 
through  the  swamp  on  the  west  of  Plymouth, 
passed  Harrill's  position  and  joined  Graham's  de- 
tachment." 

General  Wessels,  commander  of  the  United  States 
forces,  says:  "At  daylight  the  following  day,  20th 
of  April,  while  my  right  and  front  was  seriously 
threatened,   the    enemy  advanced  rapidly    against 


20 


my  left,  assaulting  and  carrying  the  line  in  that 
quarter,  penetrating  the  town  along  the  river  and 
capturing  Battery  Worth." 

Fort  Worth  was  captured  by  my  company  alone. 
No  other  part  of  the  regiment  nearer  than  300  or 
400  yards.  Near  the  Fort  we  captured  a  hospital 
tent  and  I  placed  a  guard  over  it  until  the  drugs 
could  be  turned  over  to  our  Medical  Department. 
We  also  captured  a  lot  of  clothing  and  provisions. 
Jonathan  Mooney  came  out  of  a  tent  with  a  large 
ham  on  his  bayonet.  After  the  battle  we  had  a 
feast  of  fried  ham  and  other  good  things — had  gen- 
uine coffee  with  sugar  in  it.  C.  P.  Tanner,  one  of 
the  first  to  enter  Plymouth  and  Battery  Worth  was 
almost  barefooted.  He  asked  permission  to  search 
the  tents  for  shoes  and  soon  came  back  with  a  good 
pair  on  his  feet.  Gen.  Hoke's  success  in  this  battle 
made  him  a  Major  General. 

General  Wessel's  official  report  says:  "The  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  was  127  officers  and  2,707 
men,  besides  3000  stand  of  small  arms,  20  pieces  of 
artillery  and  a  large  quantity  of  other  supplies." 
Ransom's  Brigade  lost  killed  62,  wounded  414. 

April  25th.  Marched  to  Washington,  N.  C; 
26th,  closed  around  the  town  prepared  to  attack. 
During  the  night  the  enemy  withdrew  toward  New- 
bern.  From  April  28th,  to  May  3rd,  we  were  at 
Greenville.     May  5th,  crossed  the  Neuse  on  pon- 


21 


toon,  crossed  the  Trent  at  Pollocksville,  and  ad- 
vanced to  the  railroad  10  miles  below  Newbern 
where  we  were  shelled  from  gunboats  in  Neuse 
River.  May  6th.  By  forced  march  to  Kinston. 
Off  for  Petersburg,  by  rail,  May  9th.  Several  miles 
of  road  between  Weldon  and  Petersburg  had  been 
destroyed  by  Federal  Cavalry.  We  marched  by 
burning  cross  ties  to  Stony  Creek,  Va.,  where  train 
was  in  readiness  and  we  were  rushed  to  Petersburg. 
Heard  firing  across  the  Appomattox,  the  enemy  be- 
ing within  one  mile  of  the  town  and  held  in  check 
by  a  few  companies  of  Confederates  with  the  old  men 
and  boys  of  Petersburg.  Women  and  children  were 
on  the  streets,  wringing  their  hands  and  crying. 
As  we  rushed  through  the  town  they  handed  us 
lunches  of  cold  bread  and  whatever  they  could  find. 
One  lady  gave  a  hat  to  my  brother,  Amos,  who  had 
lost  his  when  on  the  train.  He  wore  the  hat  until 
he  was  killed  not  quite  two  weeks  later.  We 
reached  Petersburg  just  in  time  to  prevent  its  cap- 
ture. 

May  nth.  Moved  to  "Half  Way  House"  between 
Petersburg  and  Richmond,  where  my  company  was 
placed  on  skirmish  line  in  an  open  field  on  the 
crest  of  a  ridge  with  a  line  of  battle  opposed.  Un- 
der orders  we  retired  across  Proctor's  Creek,  skir- 
mished, and  held  our  position  until  dark.  May  12th 
Occupied   breastworks   west  of  the  railroad.     We 


22 


were  attacked  by  skirmishers  in  front  and  surprised 
by  line  of  battle  in  rear.  My  company  occupied  ae 
angle  in  our  breastworks  which  had-  been  prepared 
for  artillery.  When  attacked  from  the  rear  we 
jumped  over  and  occupied  the  other  side  of  our 
breastworks.  This  angle  was  nearest  the  enemy's 
line  of  battle  and  but  for  our  stubborn  resistance  a 
considerable  portion  of  Ransom's  Brigade  would 
have  been  captured.  Company  I  was  complimented 
for  the  determined  and  successful  stand  made  at  this 
point. 

Private  George  Griffin  sat  on  the  breastworks 
smoking  when  the  battle  commenced.  He  re- 
mained there  and  when  he  finished  smoking  coolly 
knocked  the  ashes  from  his  pipe  and  put  it  into  his 
pocket. 

Private  Thomas  Owens,  who  from  exposure,  had 
lost  his  voice — Aphonia — a  year  previous,  was 
struck  by  a  ball  directly  over  the  heart.  He  imme- 
diately called  out  "Captain,  I'm  shot."  He  recov- 
ered voice  and  health,  and  is  still  living.  The  ball, 
having  struck  a  rib,  passed  around  the  body  and 
was  taken  from  the  back. 

When  ordered  to  withdraw,  my  company  was 
among  the  rear  guard  and  fell  back  in  perfect 
order.  The  gallant  Cicero  Durham,  of  the  49th, 
was  killed  here.  Skirmishing  continued  May  13th, 
14th  and  15th,  and  General  Ransom  was  severely 


23 


wounded.  May  16th,  a  general  engagement  was 
brought  on  by  our  Commander,  General  Beaure- 
guard.  We  were  on  a  turnpike  directly  behind  the 
Washington  Artillery  of  New  Orleans,  in  a  danger- 
ous situation,  though  not  actually  engaged.  Many 
prisoners  were  captured  and  Butler  was  "bottled"  at 
Burmuda  Hundreds  as  a  result  of  this  battle. 

WARE  BOTTOM  CHURCH  BATTLE. 

At  this  place,  for  some  unknown  reason,  five  com- 
panies were  sent  forward  in  the  face  of  the  enemy, 
without  support  on  either  flank.  Result:  Company 
I  lost  Corporal  W.  C.  Beam,  the  tallest  man  in  the 
regiment,  Sergeant  Amos  Harrill,  Privates  George 
Griffin  and  the  brothers,  Jack  and  Joe  Tessenear, 
killed,  and  12  wounded.  I  reported  to  the  first  field 
officer  to  be  found  in  the  trap,  Major  John  W. 
Graham,  that  all  would  be  killed  if  we  remained. 
He  ordered  us  to  retire.  My  brother,  mortally 
wounded,  was  placed  on  a  blanket  and  three  men 
helped  me  carry  him  out  to  the  Ambulance  Corps. 
When  I  could  leave  the  command  I  found  him  slow- 
ly dying  in  the  Field  Hospital.  We  buried  him  in 
a  private  graveyard.  Thirty  years  later  I  visited 
the  spot  and  found  the  grave  which  has  since  been 
marked. 

We  spent  about  a  month  erecting  fortifications 
between   Drewry's  Bluff  and  Petersburg,  then  went 


24 


to  the  north  side  of  James  River.  From  thence  on 
the  night  of  June  16th,  we  were  hurried  to  Peters- 
burg (20  miles)  where  we  arrived  at"  daylight  and 
were  sent  to  meet  the  advance  of  Grant's  army,  then 
ready  to  enter  the  town.  We  were  under  fire  near- 
ly all  day.  A  stray  shot  exploded  the  cartridge 
box  of  Martin  Price  and  badly  singed  his  hands,  face, 
hair  and  whiskers. 

Part  of  the  Confederate  lines  had  been  captured. 
Ransom's  and  Clingman's  North  Carolina  Brigades 
were  ordered  to  recapture  them  on  the  night  of 
June  17th.  It  was  about  10  o'clock  and  a  full  noon 
shed  its  soft,  mellow  light  upon  us.  Facing  a  re- 
cently victorious  army  we  expected  hot  work.  The 
command  "Forward"  was  given.  The  two  brigades 
rushed  in  to  the  old  lines  and  met  stubborn  resist- 
ance, some  of  the  enemy,  refusing  to  surrender, 
were  clubbed  or  bayonetted.  The  men  of  Com- 
pany I,  secured  guns  and  ammunition.  On  some 
of  these  Springfield  rifles  were  carved  fish,  snakes, 
turtles,  etc.,  the  work  of  Minnesota  Indians  whom 
we  fought  by  moonlight.  These  guns  were  highly 
prized  and  carried  by  my  men  to  the  close  of  the 
war. 

In  this  battle  my  brother,  John,  was  seriously 
wounded.  Three  inches  of  bone  was  removed  from 
his  right  shoulder.  I  afterwards  found  him  in  a 
crowded  hospital  with  the  wound  neglected  and  in 


25 


bad  condition.  I  violated  the  hospital  regulations 
and  removed  him  to  the  home  of  a  Mrs.  Griffin, 
where  he  had  good  attention.  He  received  furlough 
but  was  never  able  to  return.  He  lived  about  twen- 
ty five  years  but  finally  died  from  the  effects  of  the 
wound. 

June  18th,  about  3  a.  m.,  Company  I  was  ordered 
to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  cover  the  space  occupied 
by  the  56th  regiment  and  hold  the  line  until  the 
enemy  could  be  seen  in  front. 

The  balance  of  the  regiment  withdrew  nearer  to 
Petersburg  where  they  commenced  digging  on  a 
new  line  of  defense  as  none  but  soldiers  expecting 
attack  could  do.  At  daylight  after  seeing  the  field 
in  front  almost  covered  with  living  and  dead  blue 
coats,  the  company  retired  to  a  piece  of  woodland, 
then  to  a  railroad  embankment  in  an  open  field 
where  we  awaited  developments.  First  we  were 
attacked  by  skirmishers  and  repulsed  them.  Next 
came  a  line  of  battle.  We  retired  under  hot  fire 
to  the  new  line.  In  entering,  I  attempted  to  pass 
between  two  pieces  of  our  artillery.  In  their  anxi- 
ety our  gunners  fired  before  I  passed  the  muzzles. 
I  was  knocked  by  concussion  to  my  knees  and 
managed  to  crawl  within  our  lines.  I  did  not  leave 
my  post  until  I  saw  the  enemy's  desperate  charge 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  though  the  severe  shock 
rendered  me  unfit  for  duty  for  several  days. 


26 


On  this  day  Captain  F.  N.  Roberts,  the  last  re- 
maining commissioned  officer  of  Company  B,  was 
killed.  Lieutenant  Joseph  M.  Walker  of  my  Com- 
pany was  detailed  to  command  Company  B,  and 
acted  as  its  Captain  until  March  25th,  1865,  when 
a  large  part  of  both  companies  were  captured. 

Until  July  30th,  we  were  in  this  line.  The  two 
armies  were  in  some  places  not  more  than  200  or 
300  yards  apart.  Sharpshooters  on  both  sides  were 
on  the  lookout  and  it  was  dangerous  to  raise  the 
head  above  the  breastworks. 

Our  rations  were  scant.  Part  of  the  meat  was 
Nassau  bacon  from  Governor  Vance's  blockade  run- 
ner "Advance."  It  was  yellow  with  age  and  near- 
ly all  grease,  but  hungry  men  could  eat  it. 

It  was  rumored  that  the  Federals  were  tunnelling 
under  our  lines.     We  failed  to  locate  the  spot. 

About  July  20th,  being  the  senior  officer  present 
for  duty,  I  took  command  of  the  56th  regiment 
and  served  as  Colonel  for  several  weeks. 

THE  CRATER. 

On  the  crest  of  a  ridge  1  mile  east  of  Petersburg, 
stood  Pegram's  Battery,  commanding  the  Federal 
line  for  more  than  a  mile,  which  induced  the  Fed- 
erals to  destroy  it  in  the  hope  of  rushing  through 
the  gap  and  capturing  Petersburg.  150  yards  north 
of  this  battery   a   small   stream   flowed   northeast 


27 


through  our  line.  The  same  distance  south  the  Jeru- 
salem road  led  southeast.  To  the  west  was  a  Con- 
federate mortar  battery  on  higher  ground.  Ran- 
som's Brigade  was  north  of  Pegram's  Battery.  On 
our  right  was  Elliott's  South  Carolina  Brigade 
which  extended  southward  beyond  Pegram's  Bat- 
tery. 

While  lying  on  a  piece  of  oil-cloth,  I  was  awak- 
ened on  the  morning  of  July  30th,  by  the  terrific 
explosion,  and  a  rocking,  trembling  motion  of  the 
earth.  Instantly  our  men  sprang  to  their  guns, 
without  adjusting  their  scanty  garments,  and  in  two 
minutes  were  ready  for  the  terrible  ordeal  before 
them. 

Two  hundred  pieces  of  Federal  artillery  opened 
fire  immediately  after  the  explosion,  which  had  de- 
stroyed the  battery,  killed  the  men  sleeping  near 
and  blown  up  the  earth,  forming  a  crater  forty  yards 
long,  twenty-five  yards  wide  and  about  thirty  feet 
deep.  Three  divisions  of  Federal  soldiers  (one  col- 
ored troops)  rushed  into  the  breach  with  an  open 
road  to  Petersburg.  Instead  of  pressing  forward, 
they  dallied  half  an  hour  while  the  Confederate 
army  took  active  measures   to   meet   the   enemy. 

Ransom's  Brigade,  fortunately  sheltered  by  the 
bank  of  the  stream,  moved  rapidly  to  the  right  at  an 
angle  of  about  450  from  the  earthworks.  A  move- 
ment to  the  left  at  about  the  same  angle  brought 


28 


the  South  Carolina  Troops  into  position  along  the 
Jerusalem  road. 

In  their  new  position,  so  hastily  taken,  these  two 
brigades  met  and  repulsed  the  terrible  onslaught 
of  the  enemy.  Several  assaults  were  made.  If  the 
Federals  moved  south  or  southwest  they  were  met 
by  the  South  Carolinians.  If  north  or  northwest, 
Ransom's  Tar  Heels  blocked  the  way.  If  they  ad- 
vanced toward  Petersburg,  they  were  on  top  of  the 
ridge  under  a  deadly  cross  fire  from  both  lines. 
Meanwhile  the  mortar  battery  and  other  artillery 
threw  shells  into  the  huddled  mass  of  Federal 
troops  with  fearful  havoc.  After  the  battle  had 
been  raging  for  two  or  more  hours,  the  Federals 
commenced  breaking  to  the  rear  singly  and  in 
squads.  This  brought  them  within  range  of  cross- 
fire from  Confederates  still  occupying  the  old  lines 
and  many  were  cut  down. 

About  nine  or  ten  o'clock  General  Mahone  ar- 
rived with  re-inforcements  and  a  general  charge  was 
ordered.  With  a  yell  and  bayonet  charge  the  Con- 
federates swept  everything  before  them  and  re-es- 
tablished the  lines.  There  was  a  truce  for  the 
burial  of  the  dead  and  hundreds  of  bodies  were 
thrown  into  the  great  chasm  and  covered  with 
dirt. 

An  extract  from  North  Carolina  Regiments,  Vol- 
ume III,  page  372,  is  here  given: 


29 


"The  fifty-sixth  under  Captains  Lawson  Harrill, 
acting  Colonel  and  R.  D.  Graham,  acting  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  deploy  in  single  file  and  move  up  the 
line  to  the  right  to  meet  any  demonstration  in  their 
front,  contributing  by  their  steady  fire  materially 
to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  while  a  forlorn  hope 
is  being  organized  for  a  counter  charge.  It  was 
sure  death  for  one  of  the  Yankees  to  even  start  to 
the  rear  from  this  north  side  of  the  Crater." 

After  the  battle  I  visited  the  Crater  where  hun- 
dreds of  dead  Federal  soldiers,  both  white  and 
black  lay  "piled  and  crossed  and  packed  upon  each 
other,"  the  most  horrible  sight  I  ever  witnessed. 
This  battle  cost  the  enemy  thousands  of  men  and 
was  a  great  failure  on  their  part. 

August  15th,  we  exploded  a  mine  under  the  ene- 
emy's  line  but  gained  nothing  thereby.  I  was  still 
in  command  of  the  regiment,  had  a  close  call  from 
the  explosion  of  a  mortar  shell. 

BATTLE  ON   WELDON  RAILROAD. 

August  21st.  Our  regiment  with  others  at- 
tempted to  drive  the  enemy  from  a  fortified  posi- 
tion on  the  Weldon  railroad,  but  failed.  Company 
I  lost  Lieutenant  Sweezy,  John  Murray  and  Rufus 
Davis,  killed — several  wounded.  I  was  sick  and 
not  with  my  company  in  battle,  the  only  time  dur- 
ing my  service  as  captain.     Captain  R.  D.  Graham 


30 


commanded  regiment.  Major  John  W.  Graham  re- 
turned from  furlough  August  25th,  and  I  was  re- 
lieved of  command  of  regiment. 

General  Wade  Hampton  in  a  cavalry  raid  in  the 
rear  of  Grant's  army  captured  1800  fine  beef  cattle. 
I  saw  them  driven  into  west  Petersburg  and  all 
enjoyed  the  feast,  which  followed. 

September,  October,  November  and  December, 
1864,  and  January  and  February,  '65,  were  spent  in 
the  trenches  east  of  Petersburg,  always  exposed  to 
sharpshooters.  Lieutenant  L.  M.  Lynch  was  kill- 
ed by  a  sharpshooter. 

During  the  long-  siege  from  June  18th,  1864,  to 
April,  1865,  the  men  lived  underground  in  "bomb- 
proofs,"  scantily  clothed,  almost  barefooted  and  half 
starved.  They  would  eat  anything.  I  was  invited 
to  a  "squirrel  dinner"  made  of  wharf  rats. 

About  the  middle  of  March,  the  56th  was  sent 
six  or  eight  miles  southwest  of  Petersburg,  the  first 
time  in  about  nine  months  that  we  had  been  from 
under  fire.  This  rest,  which  was  greatly  enjoyed 
by  the  men,  was  of  short  duration.  On  the  evening 
of  March  24th,  we  received  marching  orders  and 
by  daylight  were  in  our  old  place  east  of  Petersburg. 

HARE'S  HILL  OR  FORT  STEADMAN. 

The  Federals  occupied  a  strongly  fortified  posi- 
tion in  front  of   which    was   a   stockade   of   poles, 


31 


placed  at  an  angle  of  450  and  bound  together  with 
wire.  General  Ransom,  in  command  of  two  brig- 
ades, formed  a  line  of  battle  to  attack.  Standing  on 
the  Confederate  breastworks  he  called  me  by  name 
and  pointing  to  a  pine  tree  in  the  Federal  lines  said, 
"Take  your  company  in  at  that  tree."  The  bal- 
ance of  the  regiment  was  to  follow  us.  We  reached 
the  stockade  and  with  our  bayonets  untwisted  and 
broke  the  wires,  removed  timbers  and  made  a  gap 
through  which  we  passed,  one  or  two  men  at  a 
time.  The  shot  from  the  enemy  went  over  our 
heads  as  it  was  too  dark  for  them  to  see  us.  We 
made  a  rush  and  went  over  the  Federal  lines  fol- 
lowed closely  by  the  balance  of  the  regiment  The 
enemy,  after  being  driven  out  brought  up  re-en- 
forcements, made  two  separate  charges  and  were 
repulsed.  I  then  received  an  order  from  General 
Ransom  to  hold  a  certain  traverse,  a  cross  section 
of  breastworks,  in  defending  which  I  was  captured 
with  about  twenty  of  my  men.  I  give  extracts 
from  the  description  of  this  battle  by  Captain  R.  D. 
Graham.    North  Carolina  Regiments,  Vol.  Ill,  pages 

390,  391.  392: 

"Captain  L,.  Harrill,  in  command  of  Companv  I 
*  *  *  and  Lieutenant  Chas.  M.  Payne,  of  Com- 
pany K,  *  *  *  now  move  briskly  over  the 
line  with  the  skirmishers,  and  on  their  heels  fol- 
lows our  line  of  battle.     *     *     *     The  position  is 


32 


ours  before  the  enemy  is  ready  for  the  work  of  the 
day  *  *.  The  morning  wore  on,  with  the  ene- 
my paying  us  their  respects  both  with  jnfantry  and 
distant  artillery  on  the  left,  and  shelling  from  a 
point  to  our  right  *  *  *  *.  Compaq'  I  was 
on  the  extreme  left  of  that  part  of  the  lines  held  by 
the  Confederates,  and  after  the  battle  had  been  rag- 
ing for  some  time,  Captain  Harrill  received  an  or- 
der from  General  Ransom  with  his  compliments, 
saying  "The  traverse  there  must  be  held."  The 
defense  of  this  traverse  for  a  time  checked  the  en- 
emy rushing  along  their  main  line  to  enfilade  the 
regiment.  About  nine  or  ten  o'clock,  as  the  regi- 
ment was  withdrawing  last  from  the  field,  the  en- 
emy made  another  desperate  charge  in  front  and  at 
the  same  time  the  second  Michigan  regiment 
rushed  along  the  main  line  and  captured  Captain 
Harrill  and  about  twenty  men  of  the  company." 
J.  C.  Gross  and  Thomas  Robbins  were  killed.  Rem- 
nants of  the  two  companies,  I  and  B,  escaped  and 
under  First  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Walker,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant P.  H.  Gross  and  (uncommissioned)  Third 
Lieutenant  C.  P.  Tanner,  continued  with  the  regi- 
ment 

Access  to  the  diary  of  C.  P.  Tanner,  well  known 
as  one  of  the  bravest  men  in  Company  I,  enables 
me  to  follow  their  movements  to  Five  Forks, — 
March    26th,    spent  in  making  new  fortifications, 


33 


worked  nearly  all  night, — at  sunrise  moved  back  to 
old  quarters.  28th.  Skirmishing  at  Burgess' Mill, 
on  Hatcher's  Run.  29th.  Marched  through  cold 
rain  parallel  with  Federal  troops.  Repulsed,  with- 
out loss,  several  attacks  of  cavalry.  Remained  in 
camp  next  day  and  on  the  31st  advanced  toward 
Dinwiddie  C.  H.,  had  skirmishing  at  Richardson's 
Run  and  lay  in  line  of  battle  all  night. 

April  1st.  Continued  march  expecting  attack. 
Men  anxious  for  battle.  After  some  skirmishing 
marched  back  toward  Five  Forks  and  found  them- 
selves almost  surrounded  and  cut  off.  Roads  im- 
passible, marched  through  woods  and  fields,  aban- 
doned ambulances  in  the  mud.  Rations  that  night, 
for  desperately  hungry  men,  was  a  chunk  of  corn 
bread. 

A  few  moments  after  arriving  at  Five  Forks  they 
were  attacked  and  repulsed  several  charges.  At 
last  they  were  surrounded,  attacked  in  front  and 
rear  and  forced  to  surrender.  General  Ransom  was 
taken  from  under  his  horse  and  with  a  few  men 
managed  to  escape,  but  the  regiment  was  reduced 
to  one  company's  strength.  Lieutenants  Walker 
and  Tanner  were  captured.  Lieutenant  Gross  es- 
caped and  with  J.  D.  Jones,  J.  G.  Horton,  W.  R. 
Smart,  O.  D.  Price,  G.  L.  Lovelace,  R.  H.  Wall,  and 
Jonas  Womack,  answered  roll  call  at  Appomattox. 
Only  eight  men  left  of  one  hundred  and  forty-six. 


34 

PRISONER. 

The  battle  of  Hare's  Hill  ended  my  active  service 
in  the  Confederate  Army.  When  I  saw  we  would 
be  captured,  I  hid  my  sword  in  the  leaves.  I  re- 
ceived courteous  treatment  from  my  captor,  Major 

of  the  2nd  Michigan  Regiment, 

who  was  a  Mason.  I  was  taken  by  rail  to  City 
Point,  thence  to  Fortress  Munroe  and  Washington, 
by  boat.  On  the  boat  an  old  gentleman  in  citizens 
clothes  made  himself  known  to  me  as  a  Mason,  and 
invited  me  to  dine  with  him.  The  guard  refused. 
The  gentleman  then  asked  if  I  had  any  Confederate 
money.  I  handed  him  a  bill  and  he  gave  me  a 
greenback  bill  in  exchange.  I  used  this  money  in 
buying  food. 

I  was  taken  to  Old  Capitol  Prison  in  Washing- 
ton. All  windows  facing  the  street  had  been  brick- 
ed up,  and  light  entered  from  an  inner  court  of  the 
prison. 

I  was  transferred  to  Fort  Delaware,  on  an  island 
in  the  Delaware  river,  not  many  days  before  Lin- 
coln's assassination,  after  which,  double  guards 
(some  of  them  negro  troops)  were  placed  around 
the  prison.  We  were  not  allowed  to  assemble  in 
groups,  and  when  exercising  in  the  yard,  were  not 
allowed  to  stop  to  speak  to  anyone. 

Our  food  supply  was  limited.     The  worst  feature 


35 


of  the  bean  soup  was  the  number  of  flies  in  it. 
Fortunately,  I  was  able  to  purchase  soome  food. 
My  uncle,  Judge  John  Baxter,  of  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
sent  me  a  check  for  $50.00,  on  which  I  paid  $6.00 
exchange.  Balance  given  me  only  in  small  sums 
to  prevent  me  from  buying  my  way  out  of  prison. 
Col.  Frank  Coxe,  sent  me  a  check  for  $10.00.  It 
failed  to  reach  me,  though  some  one  cashed  it. 

After  I  had  been  at  Fort  Delaware  about  a  month 
circulars  were  given  to  the  prisoners,  offering  us 
freedom  if  we  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
Less  than  a  dozen  of  the  1200  officers  imprisoned 
here  took  the  oath. 

RELEASE  FROM  PRISON. 

I  remained  in  prison  until  June  19th,  when  I  was 
required  to  hold  up  my  right  hand  while  the  oath 
was  read  to  me,  therefore  I  did  not  regard  it  as 
binding. 

Twenty-five  North  Carolinians  left  in  a  squad.  I 
was  made  captain  and  went  to  the  Army  Head- 
quarters in  Philadelphia,  where  a  party  pass  was 
given  me  good  to  Salisbury,  N.  C.  While  stand- 
ing here  in  my  ragged,  dirty  prison  clothing,  I  was 
recognized  by  the  carrier  who  delivered  my  mail 
when  I  was  a  student  at  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
four  years  before.  He  furnished  me  a  long  linen 
duster  which  covered  my  rags.     I  went  to  call  on 


36 


my  former  landlady,  Miss  Susan  Roberts,  and  found 
she  had  sent  a  bundle  of  clothing  to  the  prison  for 
me.     The  package  did  not  reach  me. 

With  the  squad  I  went  by  rail  to  Baltimore, 
then  on  a  miserably  dirty  cattle  transport  to  Nor- 
folk, where  we  were  placed  on  a  better  boat  and 
went  up  the  James  river  to  Richmond,  thence  by 
rail  to  Salisbury,  where  we  separated.  I  told  the 
inn  keeper,  Mr.  Alex  Buis,  that  I  had  no  money. 
He  gave  me  lodging  and  breakfast.  As  I  was  leav- 
ing and  thanking  him  for  his  kindness,  a  stranger 
handed  me  a  two-dollar  bill  and  urged  me  to  accept 
it.  I  paid  my  bill,  took  my  friend's  name,  and  one 
year  later,  was  enabled  to  return  the  money.  With 
75  cents  in  my  pocket  I  boarded  the  train.  I  told 
the  conductor  my  circumstances  and  he  did  not  ask 
me  ^for  a  ticket.  At  Catawba  Station  I  left  the 
train,  took  dinner  with  my  brother-in-law,  J.  M. 
Lewis,  and  started  for  Wilkes  county,  on  an  old, 
worn-out  mule. 

I  spent  the  night  with  a  man  who  was  expecting 
his  son  home  from  the  army,  paid  him  75  cents, 
and  reached  home  without  a  cent. 


37 


HOME. 

I  found  the  family  of  my  father-in-law  almost  in 
need,  as  Stoneman  had  passed  through  some  weeks 
previous  and  almost  stripped  the  country. 

There  were  seven  in  the  family  to  be  fed,  besides 
ten  or  twelve  negroes  who  were  shrewd  enough  not 
to  leave  their  old  master.  Our  food  was  mainly 
corn  bread  and  pork  from  a  litter  of  pigs,  three 
months  old,  which  we  butchered  one  by  one  and 
ate  half  of  one  in  a  day.  This  fare  seemed  sump- 
tuous to  the  three  returned  soldiers. 

About  July  I  visited  my  parents  in  Rutherford 
county  and  found  I  had  left  with  them  $3.50  in  sil- 
ver— now  my  entire  estate.  I  returned  to  Wilkes 
where  I  practiced  medicine  and  farmed  for  several 
hard  years  of  the 

RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD. 

The  State  was  without  a  currency.  Everything 
was  in  confusion  and  uncertainty.  There  were  no 
schools  and  no  mail  facilities.  We  had  to  send 
fourteen  miles  to  Wilkesboro  for  mail. 

Designing  men  organized  the  negroes  into  "Loy- 
al Leagues"  or  "Red  Strings,"  the  badge  being  any- 
thing red  worn  anywhere  about  the  person.  One 
meeting  place  was  about  half  a  mile  from  my  home. 
The   meetings   were  boisterous,    noise  continuing 


38 


nearly  all  night.  Fences  were  thrown  down  so 
stock  could  destroy  the  crops. 

At  this  time  Hon.  Josiah  Turner  had~an  appoint- 
ment to  speak  in  Wilksboro  and  a  threat  was  made 
that  he  would  not  be  allowed  to  do  so.  A  message 
was  sent  to  the  old  soldiers  and  on  the  appointed 
day  they  were  present  prepared  for  business.  The 
leaders  of  the  Red  Strings  were  notified  that  they 
would  be  held  personally  responsible  for  the  slight- 
est disturbance  and  would  be  the  first  to  suffer.  It 
proved  to  be  a  quiet  day. 

I  was  disfranchised  by  the  authorities,  the  lead- 
ers of  the  League,  upon  the  ground  that,  before  the 
war,  I  was  deputy  postmaster  at  a  little  country 
postoffice,  which  perhaps  paid  to  the  principal  ten 
or  twelve  dollars  a  year,  the  true  reason  being  the 
fact  that  they  could  not  control  my  vote. 

Such  conditions  led  to  the  organization  of  the 
Ku  Klux  Klan  who  soon  brought  about  a  very 
different  state  of  affairs.  I  was  not  a  member  but 
knew  something  of  their  movements. 

In  1870,  I  moved  to  Abilene,  Kansas,  where  I 
found  there  was  a  law  disfranchising  any  one  who 
had  served  in  the  Confederate  army.  My  ballot 
was  challenged  at  the  first  election.  I  was  then 
told  that  I  would  be  allowed  to  vote  if  I  could  say 
I  had  been  drafted,  or  had  entered  the  Confederate 
army  under  compulsion.     I  replied   "I    went  into 


39 


the  army  voluntarily  and  under  like  circumstances 
would  act  in  the  same  way."  During  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  Legislature  an  act  was  passed  making 
me  a  citizen  of  the  State  of  Kansas.  I  was  no  long- 
er a  man  without  a  country. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I, 


56th  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops. 
1861—1865 


Gen.  M.  W.  Ransom's  Brigade. 


Kilpatrick,  James  W.  Enlisted  May  i,  1861. 
Promoted  ist  Lieutenant  Company  D,  i6th  Regi- 
ment. Promoted  Captain  Company  I,  56th  Regi- 
ment, April  7,  1862.  Killed  at  Seven  Pines,  May 
31,  1862. 

Harrill,  Lawson.  Enlisted  Company  D,  16th 
Regiment,  May  1,  1861.  Promoted  to  ist  Lieuten- 
ant, April  7,  1862.  Promoted  to  Captain  Company 
I,  56th  Regiment,  May  31,  1862,  at  battle  of  Seven 
Pines.     Living. 


40 


Sweezy,  James  H.  Enlisted  March  15,  1862. 
Promoted  2nd  Lieutenant.  Promoted  1st  Lieuten- 
ant, May  31,  1862.  Discharged  July  29,  1862,  and 
died  soon  after. 

Sweezy,  Henry  A.  L.  Enlisted  May  1,  1861,  Com- 
pany D,  1 6th  Regiment.  Promoted  to  3rd  Lieu- 
tenant, April,  7,  1862,  Company  I,  56th  Regiment. 
Promoted  to  2nd  Lieutenant,  August  2,  1862.  Pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenant,  August  2,  1862.  Killed 
near  Petersburg,  Va.,  August  21,  1864. 

Walker,  Joseph  M.  Enlisted  May  1,  1861,  Com- 
pany D,  1 6th  Regiment.  Promoted  to  2nd  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  I,  56th  Regiment,  July  26,  1862. 
Promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  August  21,  1864.  De- 
tailed to  command  Company  B,  56th  Regiment, 
June  18,  1864,  and  continued  to  April  1,  1865. 
Prisoner  at  Johnson's  Island.  Home  July  4,  1865. 
Living. 

Gross,  Philip  H.  Enlisted  May,  1861,  Company 
G,  1 6th,  transferred  to  Company  I,  56th  Regi- 
ment. Promoted  to  3rd  Lieutenant,  October,  1863. 
Promoted  to  2nd  Lieutenant,  August  21,  1864. 

Lynch,  L.  M.  Enlisted  March  18,  1862.  Orderly 
Sergeant.  Promoted  3rd  Lieutenant,  September, 
1864.  Killed  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  in  February, 
1865. 


41 


Tanner,  C.  P.  Enlisted  March,  1862.  Sergeant. 
Promoted  to  3rd  Lieutenant,  March,  1865,  not  com- 
missioned.    Wounded.     Living. 

Calton,  John  W.  Enlisted  March  26,  1862.  Or- 
derly Sergeant. 

Wall,  W.  G.  Enlisted  March  26,  1862.  Sergeant. 
Wounded. 

Mooney,  Jonathan.  Enlisted  May  1,  1862.  Ser- 
geant.    Wounded. 

Harrill,  Amos.  Enlisted  May  1,  1861,  Company 
D,  1 6th  Regiment.  Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Sergeant.  Mortally  wounded  at  Ware  Bottom 
Church,  May  20,  1864.     Died,  May  21,  1864. 

Beam,  W.  C.  L.  Corporal.  Enlisted  March  19, 
1862.  Killed  at  Ware  Bottom  Church,  May  20, 1864. 

Lynch,  W.  L.  Corporal.   Enlisted  March  18,  1862. 

Robbins,  John  B.  Corporal.  Enlisted  March  3, 
1862.     Captured.     Died  at  Point  Lookout. 

Price,  Adam.  Corporal.  Enlisted  March  21, 
1862.     Living. 

Price,  John  R.  Corporal.  Enlisted  March  21, 
1862. 

Price,  Joseph  G.  Drummer.  Enlisted  March  21, 
1862.  Went  into  battle  at  Seven  Pines,  and  killed 
May  31,  1862. 


42 


Price,  Oliver  D.  Fifer.  Enlisted  March  21, 1862. 
Cook  and  Nurse  at  invalid  camp  during  seige  of 
Petersburg,  1864  and  1865.     Living. 

PRIVATES. 

Atkinson,  J.  M.     Enlisted. 

Biggerstaff,  G.  W.  Enlisted  May  2,  1861,  Com- 
pany D,  16th.     Transferred  April  7,  1862. 

Biggerstaff,  I.  N.  Enlisted  March  20,  1862.  Liv- 
ing. 

Bird,  William.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Dis- 
charged December  1,  1862. 

Bolton,  S.  B.  Enlisted  March  15,  1862.  Died 
from  wound. 

Bolton,  J.  H.  Enlisted  March  15,  1862.  Killed 
near  Petersburg. 

Bridges,  A.  W.  Enlisted  March  4,  1862.  Wound- 
ed. 

Brooks,  Wm.  A.  Enlisted  March  4,  1862.  Killed 
at  Seven  Pines,  May  31,  1862. 

Buff,  A.  M.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Wounded. 

Buff,  Daniel  C.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died 
June  27,  1862. 

Baber, 

Bailey,  Riley. 


43 


Bailey,  John. 

Canipe,    John    W.      Enlisted   March    17,    1862. 
Wounded. 

Cash,  Haswell.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.     Dis- 
charged July  1,  1862. 

Covington,  J.  C.     Enlisted  March  19,  1862.  Died 
on  roadside  June  11,  1862. 

Campbell,  J.  P.     Enlisted  November  11,   1863. 
Wounded. 

Campbell,    Thos.     Enlisted     April     10,     1864. 
Wounded. 

Dameron,  T.  G.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Dameron,  Wm.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died 
at  Wilmington,  March,  1863. 

Daves,  William.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.     Killed 
at  Plymouth,  N.  C,  April  20,  1864. 

Daves,  William  J.     Enlisted   March    21,    1862. 
Wounded. 

Davis,  Rufus.    Enlisted  July  8,  1862.    Wouuded. 
Died  in  prison. 

Davis,  J.  L.     Enlisted. 
Deck,  G.  W.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 
DePriest,  J.  G.  B.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 
Dobbins,  Nehemiah.     Enlisted  1863. 


44 


Franklin,  J.  P.     July  8,  1862.     Died  in  hospital. 

Floyd,  J.  M.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862^.     Died  in 
hospital  July  29,  1862. 

Freeman,  Dock.     Enlisted. 

Goforth,  J.  H.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Goforth,  Thomas.     Enlisted. 

Griffin,  George.    Enlisted  March  21,  1862.   Kill- 
ed May  20,  1864,  Ware  Bottom  Church. 

Green,  I,.  M.     Enlisted  July  8,   1862.     Died  in 
hospital. 

Green,  Samuel.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Green,  William.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Green,  James.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.     Died 
in  hospital  April  30,  1862. 

Green,  Whitten.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.     Died 
July  10,  1862. 

Gross,  J.  C.     Enlisted  March  19,   1862.     Killed 
near  Petersburg,  March  25,  1865. 

Hamilton,  W.  P.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.   Died 
in  hospital  July  27,  1862. 

Hamilton,  J.  W.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Hanks,  E.  F.     Enlisted Transferred  to 

Company  A,  56th  Regiment. 


45 


Harrill,  Housen.  Enlisted  May  i,  1861,  Com- 
pdny  D,  16th,  transferred  to  Company  I.  Wounded. 

Harrill,  Drury.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died 
in  hospital  January  6,  1863. 

Harrill,  John  B.  Enlisted  September,  1861,  Com- 
pany B,  34th.  Discharged.  Re-enlisted  July,  1862. 
Severely  wounded  June  17,  1864. 

Harrill,  Pinkney.  Enlisted  1862.  Died  from 
wound. 

Henson,  J.  C.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Severely 
wounded.  Nose  split  open,  two  front  teeth,  portion 
of  bone  and  ball  all  caught  in  mouth. 

Hollifield,  H.  C.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Hollifield,  N.  J.  Enlisted  July  5,  1862.  Wounded. 

Horton,  D.  M.  Enlisted  March  15,  1862.  Lost 
left  arm  August  21,  1864. 

Horton,  G.  J.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Wound- 
ed. 

Horton,  W.  T.  Enlisted  July  8,  1862.  Killed 
near  Petersburg,  August  21,  1864. 

Horton,  John  J.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died 
in  hospital  April  28,  1862. 

Horton,  Paton.  Enlisted  March  3,  1862.  Died 
in  hospital. 


46 


Hutchings,  Isaac.  Enlisted  March  20,  1862. 
Died  in  hospital  April  24,  1862. 

Hitchings,  Reuben.  Enlisted  March  20,  1862. 
Died  in  hospital  May  1,  1862. 

Huntsinger,  John.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 
Wounded. 

Huntsinger,  Wm.     Enlisted  March  20,  1862. 

Jones,  J.  D.  Enlisted  March  12,  1862.    Wounded. 

King,  Spencer.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died 
in  hospital  June  20,  1862. 

King,  Wm.  Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Died  in 
hospital  June  1,  1862. 

Lynch,  A.  K.  Enlisted  May  1,  1861,  Company 
D,  16th.  Transferred  to  Company  I.  Killed  at 
Seven  Pines,  May  31,  1862. 

Lynch,  Hyman.     Enlisted. 

Lovelace,  G.  L.  C.     Enlisted  February  19,  1863. 

Melton,  Samuel.     Enlisted. 

Melton,  Joseph.     Enlisted. 

Melton,  J.  S.     Enlisted  March  15,  1862. 

Michael,  James  M.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Moxley,  Thos.     Enlisted  October,  1863. 

Mooney,  David.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 


47 


Mooney,  E.  D.     Enlisted  October  14,  1862.    Lost 
left  arm  August  21,  1864. 

Mooney,  Jacob.    Enlisted  January  1,  1863.    Died 
at  Ashland,  Va.,  April  29,  I863. 

Mooney,  Philip.     Enlisted.     Died    at   Williams- 
burg, Va. 

Mooney,  M.  O.     Enlisted  March  15,  1862. 

Mooney,  Peter.     Enlisted  March  15,  1862.  Died 
from  wound  in  knee. 

McFarland,  D.  C.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.    Died 
January  5,  1863,  at  Goldsboro. 

Murray,  John  W.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.  Killed 
August  21,  1864. 

Nelon,  James  R.     Enlisted  March  20,  1862. 

Owens,  Thomas.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.  Se- 
verely woonded. 

Owens,  Amos.     Enlisted  May  1,  186 1,  Company 
D,  16th.  Discharged  January  17,  1862.   Re-enlisted. 

Padgett,    Craton.      Enlisted     March     21,     1862. 
Wounded. 

Padgett,  J.  L.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.  Wounded. 

Padgett,  L,andrum.     Enlisted  April  6,  1864. 

Philbeck,  A.  B.       Enlisted     March     15,     1862. 
Died  in  hospital. 


48 


Philbeck,  J.  P.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.  Wound- 
ed. 

Philbeck,  W.  H.      Enlisted    March     21,    1862. 
Died  in  hospital. 

Pope,  L.  J.    Enlisted  July  8,  1862.     Died  in  the 
hospital. 

Porter,  W.  D.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.     Dis- 
charged. 

Price,  F.  J.     Enlisted  July  10,  1862. 

Price,  G.  W.    Enlisted  March  22,  1862.  Wounded. 

Price,  H.  W.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862.    Wounded. 
Died  in  prison. 

Price,  John  M.     Enlisted  April  1,  1863.  Wound- 
ed. 

Price,  John  R.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Price,  T.  F.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Price,  Martin  G.    Enlisted  July  8, 1862.  Wound- 
ed. 

Price,  R.  S.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Robbins,  P.  L.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Robbins,  Thomas.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862.  Kill- 
ed March  25,  1865,  near  Petersburg. 

Smith,  C.  C.     Enlisted  May  1,   1861,  Company 
D,  16th.     Transferred  April  7,  1862. 


49 


Spake,  George.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Smart,  D.    P.     Enlisted     February     12,     1863. 
Wounded. 

Sparks,  W.  A.     Enlisted  April  14,  1863. 
Smart,  Wm.  R.     Enlisted  1863. 

Sorrels,  Henry  R.     Enlisted    March    15,    1862. 
Killed  at  Seven  Pines,  May  31,  1862. 

Spurlin,   George  W.     Enlisted    April    7,    1862. 
Died  from  wound. 

Sweezy,  T.  J.     Enlisted  March  15,  1862. 

Sweezy,  J.  W.     Enlisted  July  8,  1862. 

Towry,  John  P.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Towry,  L.  M.     Enlisted    March   21,  1862.     Dis- 
charged. 

Tessenear,  Jackson.    Enlisted  February  12,  1863. 
Killed  May  20,  1864,  at  Ware  Bottom  Church. 

Tessenear,  Joseph.     Enlisted  February  12,  1863. 
Killed  May  20,  1864,  at  Ware  Bottom  Church. 

Wall,  E.  H.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862. 

Wall,  Riley  H.      Enlisted     March     21,      1862. 
Wounded. 

Wall,  Simeon.     Enlisted  March  21,  1862.    Kill- 
ed near  Petersburg. 


50 


Wall,  John.  Enlisted  March  21,1862.  Discharged. 

Walker,  John.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862.^ 

Walker,  Davidson.  Enlisted  July  8,  1862.  Died 
December  26,  1862,  Franklin,  Va. 

Walker,  Louis  A.  Enlisted  March  22,  1862.  Died 
in  hospital  June  10,  1862. 

Walker,  Fred.  Enlisted  July  5,  1862.  Died  in 
hospital. 

Walker,  J.  B.     Enlisted. 

Webb,  R.  A.  Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Weast,  M.  G.  Enlisted  July  8,  1861.  Died  in 
hospital. 

Wells,  John.     Enlisted  October  1,  1862. 

Whitaker,  Z.  B.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Whitaker,  I.  H.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Whitaker,  R.  D.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Womack,  John.     Enlisted  1863. 

Womack,  Jonas.     Enlisted  July  5,  1862. 

Total  number  of  officers  and  men,      -         -  146 

Killed  and  mortally  wounded  on  battle  fields,  25 

Died  from  disease, 28 

Severely  wounded  but  recovered,          -         -  25 

Discharged  for  disability,     -  5 

A  large  number  of  slight  wounds,  not  serious 
enough  to  require  hospital  treatment  not  reported. 
Very  few  escaped  without  any  wound. 


CONCLUSION. 

These  reminiscences  are  published  for  the  pur- 
pose of  placing  certain  historical  facts  in  better 
s^ape  for  preservation.  The  first  person  is  used  not 
from  egotism,  but  because  the  facts  can  be  better 
told  in  that  way. 

The  record  of  each  man  of  my  Company  is  from 
Muster  Rolls,  in  my  possession,  made  when  events 
were  fresh  in  mind.  The  long  list  of  killed  and 
severely  wounded,  without  enumerating  the  many 
slight  wounds,  is  proof  that  Company  I  was  at  the 
front  and  on  the  firing  line.  Its  record  was  made 
possible  by  the  bravery  and  devotion  of  the  privates, 
"the  men  behind  the  guns,"  during  the  three  years 
of  its  existence. 

To  the  memory  of  the  twenty-five  members  of 
the  Company  who  went  to  their  death  on  the  battle- 
field ; 

To  the  twenty-eight  others,  who  from  exposure, 
sickened  and  died; 

To  those  who  have  since  passed  away; 

To  the  twenty-five  others,  who  suffered  from  se- 
vere wounds,  but  lived  with  shattered  health; 

To  all  the  living,  true  and  tried,  now  old  men, 
this  imperfect  recital  of  our  dangers  and  trials,  is 
affectionately  dedicated. 

When  the  final  roll  call  is  made,  may  each  be 
prepared  to  "pass  over  the  river  and  rest  under  the 
shade  of  the  trees,"  is  the  wish  of  your  old  comrade, 
/&£,  <3  L.  HARRILL. 


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